approach

To come or go near, in place or time; to move toward; to advance nearer; to draw nigh.

She approached the door cautiously.

We were approached by a stranger asking for directions.

To play an approach shot.

Used intransitively, followed by to: to draw near (to someone or something); to make advances; to approximate or become almost equal.

He approaches to the character of the ablest statesman.

The great source, as it appears to me, of the power of the Divine Comedy [by Dante Alighieri], is the strong belief with which the story seems to be told. In this respect, the only books which approach to its excellence are Gulliver's Travels and Robinson Crusoe.

Of an immovable object or a number of such objects: to be positioned as to (notionally) appear to be moving towards (a place).

As we drove along the driveway, the trees approaching the house seemed more eerie.

[T]here appears a seeming mount, made up of trees rising one higher than another, in proportion as they approach the centre.

To move toward (someone or something) in place, time, character, or value; to draw nearer to.

“Would counsel please approach the bench?” asked the judge.

He approached the age of manhood.

An act of drawing near in place or time; an advancing or coming near.

Ah, what a ſigne it is of euill life, Where death's approach is ſeene ſo terrible.

Nauar had notice of your faire approch. And he and his compettitours in oth, Were all addreſt to meete you gentle Lady Before I came: […]

An act of coming near in character or value; an approximation.

The canine, judging from the figures published by M. [Édouard] Lartet, seems to be less developed than in the male chimpanzees, gorillas and orang. In which character the fossil, if it belonged to a male, makes a nearer approach to the human type; but it is one which many of the inferior monkeys also exhibit, and is by no means to be trusted as significant of true affinity, supposing even the sex of the fossil to be known as being male.

An avenue, passage, or way by which a building or place can be approached; an access.

Where are my lines then? my approaches? views? Where are my window-ſongs?

[…] he ſaw As of the ſun or moon illuming clear The palace of Phæacia's mighty King. […] Maſtiffs, in gold and ſilver, lined the approach On either ſide, by art celeſtial framed Of Vulcan, guardian of Alcinoüs gate For ever, unobnoxious to decay.

An avenue, passage, or way by which a building or place can be approached; an access.

A manner of making (a policy) or solving (a problem, etc.).

Our proposed definitional approach to the data processing-communications dilemma evoked considerable discussion. There is uniform disagreement and confusion as to the regulatory implications of the proposed definitional terms.

Its [the United States Environmental Protection Agency's] initial approach to controlling the amount of lead in the ambient air was to limit lead emissions from automobiles by restricting the amount of lead in gasoline.